ISELIN RESIDENT COMPLETES EAGLE PROJECT

An Eagle Scout Service Project has just been completed at Matthew Jago School in Sewaren, by Iselin resident Jonathan Schmalenberger of Troop 44, Edison. Now that he has completed his Eagle Project, he hopes to be ready to attain the rank of Eagle early this fall.   Jon attends JFK High School. 

Jonathan choose P.A.C.E., (Program for the Advancement of Children's Education,) and Matthew Jago School for the project because of his affection for the autistic community.

Having family members with Autism and other disabilities and his desire to be a neurologist, it all just gels together to him wanting to make a difference to the special needs community.   He has volunteered for P.A.C.E. for the last 3 years, doing well over 60 hours each of the last 2 years.  Students from all over Woodbridge Township attend special programs at Matthew Jago School.

Jonathan planned the project and organized a group of volunteers, including members of his Troop 44, and members of Troop 143.  They took an empty courtyard and created a safe and attractive play space for the Autistic Preschool there.  He and his volunteers removed weeds and dirt and installed safe rubber mulch, a play house and a climbing toy, and a picnic table for the children to use.  They also painted the panels under the windows, using the colors of Autism.

This courtyard is being dedicated to the P.A.C.E. Program in honor of Charles Shaughnessy who was a member of the Colonia Knights of Columbus, and who did a lot for P.A.C.E.





There will be a ceremony at Matthew Jago School next Wednesday, June 12 at 7:00pm to dedicate the new play space, and it is expected that the Mayor and the Shaughnessy family will be attending, in addition to the Principal, Mr. Patten, and other School District representatives, and members of Troop 44.

Some of the volunteers -- from right, Mary Karafa, Co-President of P.A.C.E; Zack, Preston, Russell, Jake, Jon, Scott Kampe - Eagle Advisor, T44; Michael, Jim Crowell, Scoutmaster, T143; Anthony Calantoni, ASM, T143; Howard Kendrick, ASM, T44; Mel Jellison, Scoutmaster, T44; Krista, Kayla, Peter Romanienko, ASM, T44; Stewart Schmalenberger, ASM, T44; and, in the playhouse, T44's Committee Chair, Manny Coelho.

PHOTO CREDIT for this article - KIM SCHMALENBERGER

Any Cicadas Yet?

Have you seen any Cicadas yet?
This is supposed to be the big year for them - the 17 year cicadas are supposed to emerge pretty soon, and I'm not looking forward to it!

I'm keeping an eye on the map on the Cicada Tracker, which you can find by clicking this link!

Smithereens!!!

The Smithereens did a great show tonight at Woodbridge Middle School... they've still got a great sound, no doubt about it!  They did a few Beatles songs mixed in with some of their old songs and some newer songs.  The only glitch in the evening was a brief power problem that interrupted the performance and it didn't seem to get resolved the first time because it happened again.  Other than that, it was a great show! 

THURSDAY NIGHT OUT - SMITHEREENS!

The Smithereens are playing tonight at Woodbridge Middle School!

Remember the Smithereens?  I love them!



Tickets will be available at the door,  at 525 Barron Avenue in Woodbridge (the middle school, not the high school!) for $35.00.

Two Kennedy Park Teachers Finalists in Woodbridge Center Contest!

You can vote for "Top Notch Teacher" in a contest being run by Woodbridge Center.  Of the 8 teachers who made the list for finalist, two are teachers at Kennedy Park School #24!  There is also a teacher from Colonia Middle, Woodbridge High, and then a few out of our district.

Here are the write ups for the two Iselin candidates:
 

Nina Jacobs (Kennedy Park Elementary School #24) "Ms. Jacob teaches not just elementary education, but also community involvement. She coordinates fundraisers, food drives, and clothing drives for those in need. She goes above and beyond in every capacity - as a teacher, as the unofficial IT person at Kennedy Park, and as a caring member of the local and global community. Her motto is Gandhi''s phrase - ''Be the change that you wish to see in the world'' - and she doesn''t just say it, she lives it."

Marilyn Stephan (Kennedy Park School #24C) "Marilyn Stephan is a teacher who goes above board to work with all of her students.  She has students with various learning levels and she is able to work with each and every one of them and make each child feel important and understand the work.  She goes out of her way to work with parents and mentor other faculty in the school.  She is the epitome of a first class teacher!"

Vote today by going to the Facebook Page, HERE!

An Evening of Ecology Themed Writing April 25th

“Earth Art” A Lecture by Dr. Anne Swartz

 

Wednesday Evening
 ~ April 24, 2013 ~ 
7:30 p.m. at the Barron Arts Center

______________________________________________________________________

The Barron Arts Center, 
Hosts “Earth Art”  
Presented by Dr. Anne Swartz. 

Part of the Dr. Stephen Kaplan “A Taste of the Arts” Lecture Series.  

Wednesday Evening ~ April 24, 2013 ~ 7:30 p.m.

Admission is FREE with suggested donation of $5.00 

Reservations Required. Call 732-634-0413

The Barron Arts Center is located at 582 Rahway Avenue Woodbridge, NJ 07095

Dr. Anne Swartz will present her lecture “Earth Art” at Woodbridge’s Barron Arts Center. The Earth Art movement began in the 1960s when artists wanted to get away from making art in the traditional gallery setting and get out into nature. This presentation will examine the beginnings of these large-scale works. Specific projects considered include Alan Sonfist’s Time Landscape in Greenwich Village, Walter DeMaria’s Earth Room in Soho, and Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s recent The Gates in Central Park.

This program is funded by the Horizons Speakers Bureau of the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, a state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Sagar Vira Honored by College

Sagar Vira, a resident of Colonia, NJ, and a graduate of JFK High School in Iselin, has been named by Oxford College of Emory University in Georgia as the Student Leader of the Month, and has also been selected by the college to be listed in “Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.”

Sagar was named Student Leader of the Month by the college for his numerous contributions and leadership abilities.   The Student Leader of the Month Award selections are based on each candidate's performance and demonstrated values like awareness of self and empathy with others, ethical leadership principles and practices, collaboration and problem solving, commitment and action, and ethical engagement and citizenship.

Honi Migdol, Oxford College assistant dean for campus life, announced the selection and shares this excerpt from the nominations for Vira: “While Sagar has been a consistent leader on campus, he demonstrated exceptional leadership and maturity during the Alternative Spring Break trip to New Jersey.”  Sagar, a member of the planning committee, was in charge of service projects for the Alternative Spring Break trip and “worked endlessly” to find ways for students to be helpful while making it a meaningful experience. 

“Sagar demonstrated exceptional leadership in planning a safety day for the children at Lavallette Elementary School,” said Migdol.  “He organized a fire truck, ambulance and police car to all come to the school so that the children would have an opportunity to meet some of the heroes that helped so many of them during Hurricane Sandy.  Over and over, the teachers expressed their gratitude for this project,” continued the college representative.  “While ASB is the most current example of Sagar’s leadership, he has shown his ability throughout the last year.  His freshman year he organized a ‘Pack the Chapel’ event for the Invisible Children organization, and this year he has been instrumental in starting a new service program through the Path Project, that provides after school tutoring for the children in a local trailer park.  Sagar makes sure the volunteers from various school organizations all know what they need to do and provides direction.”

Oxford faculty and staff nominated Sagar for “Who’s Who” along with nineteen other students based upon academic achievement, service to the community, leadership in extracurricular activities and potential for continued success.

In addition to being Student Leader of the Month and on the list of “Who’s Who,”  Sagar is in the Bonner Leadership program and a member of the Honor Council at Emory, a certified Emergency Medical Technician in NJ, and an Eagle Scout.

Oxford College is located on Emory University’s original 1836 campus in Oxford, GA.  One fifth of the students in each Emory freshman class begin their baccalaureate studies with Oxford’s liberal-arts-intensive program.  As juniors, they continue their studies on Emory’s Atlanta campus.  Emory University is known for its demanding academics, outstanding undergraduate experience, highly ranked professional schools and state-of-the-art research facilities.  Emory is ranked as one of the country’s top 20 national universities by US News & World Report.  For information on Oxford College, visit www.oxford.emory.edu 

YOUTH VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION DAY Then, STAR WARS! TOMORROW AT COMMUNITY CENTER

Woodbridge Mayor John E. McCormac & Municipal Council

Celebrate Youth Volunteer Recognition Day

 

Woodbridge Township Young Adults to be Recognized for Community Volunteerism & Service…  Awards Ceremony Sunday at 1:00 p.m.

If you’re looking to get a close-up glimpse of tomorrow’s local leaders today, stop by the Woodbridge Community Center on Sun., April 7 when Mayor John E. McCormac and the Municipal Council recognize Woodbridge Township young people during the Annual “Mayor’s Youth Volunteer Award Program.”   

According to Mayor McCormac, 50 Woodbridge Township young adults will receive the 2013 Mayor’s Youth Volunteer Award for distinguished community service…volunteer service includes church and community, peer tutors, athletic coaches, hospital aides, clothing and food drive coordinators, first aid and fire squad members, and serving and assisting area homeless.

WHEN:                 SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 2013 ~ 1:00PM – 3:00PM.

 

WHERE:               Woodbridge Community Center

                                600 Main Street – 2^nd Floor Atrium

                                Woodbridge

THEN, stay for the STAR WARS EVENT!!!